Staff photo by Fran Maye
Bill Covaleski, president of Victory Brewing Co., praises local officials for working hard to bring his business to Kennett Square. Victory plans to open a brewpub in the borough this year.

Kennett Square is fast becoming the most progressive community in Chester County.

Last year, more than $1 million was spent on downtown economic development. Eleven new businesses opened. The borough obtained a $50,000 façade grant from the state, improving the aesthetics of storefronts. Festivals throughout the year, including the Mushroom Festival and Brewfest, attract tens of thousands to a borough of just one square mile.

Bill Covaleski, president of Victory Brewing Co., told those gathered for Historic Kennett Square’s annual meeting Thursday that is was no accident Kennett Square was chosen for the brewer’s third location.

“When you look at the accomplishments of Historic Kennett Square, you ask what does Kennett have that other communities don’t have,” Covaleski said. “There are a group of individuals here who are committed to a cause. And as a brewery, we will be a responsible community partner.”

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Set to open this summer, the planned 250-seat restaurant will have space for outdoor dining and will occupy all 8,138 square feet of the bottom floor of a four-story, luxury apartment building in Kennett Realty Group’s latest upscale residential community, Magnolia Place.

Kennett Realty is owned and operated by the Pia Group, which also owns Kaolin Mushroom Farms Inc. and South Mill Mushroom Sales.

The brewpub will feature some of the company’s signature dishes, including hand-tossed pretzels and wings of Victory. The space will be equipped with a five-barrel brew house to keep new, site-specific brews pouring alongside Victory’s existing lineup of world-class ales and lagers.

Covaleski said the borough’s successful Brewfests are part of the reason he chose Kennett Square. These events typically draw 1,000 people and have always sold out. This year’s Brewfest on Feb. 22 was sold out months ago.

“When we enter a community, we want to give to that community at a very reciprocal level,” Covaleski said. “What happens when you put a mushroom farming family together with a local brewer of national renown, well, I think this is going to be a good thing for the town.”

Mary Hutchins, executive director of Historic Kennett Square, said Victory Brewing is just the latest of “victories” for the borough.

“I think this is a real confidence booster for the town,” she said. “Victory is willing to commit to Kennett, and it makes us feel good.”

Hutchins said Kennett Square is vibrant today because of the cooperation of town officials.

“One thing we have that other communities (in Chester County) don’t have is a great working relationship between Historic Kennett Square and Borough Council. There’s a really nice symmetry and camaraderie between us. A lot of communities don’t have that. A lot of credit has to go to Borough Council.”

And all of the events, from the Mushroom Festival to the recent Mushroom Drop, are virtually crime-free, Hutchins said.

David Myers, new president of Historic Kennett Square, said officials are working on developing a new economic development plan for the borough, a task that hasn’t been done since 2006. And Victory Brewing Co., he said, “will be a great addition to our town.”

Victory Brewing Co. is a privately held craft brewery headquartered in Downingtown. Begun by Covaleski and Ron Barchet, childhood friends who met on a school bus in 1973, the brewery formally began operations in February 1996. Victory, Pennsylvania’s widely acclaimed brewery and restaurant, now serves fans of fully flavored beers in 31 states with innovative beers melding European ingredients.